Trail Shoe: Keen Ochoco

A first try at trail shoes by Keen resulting in a "clunky" ride

Keen, a new entrant to the trail shoe market, is a company known for its covered-toe water-sport sandals. The Ochoco takes them into the world of dry surface running and does so in an unmistakably Keen style. What isn’t apparent to the eye is the heel, built for shock attenuation at the point of impact and stability through a lower platform, and a novel midsole that integrates four different EVA densities and a nylon support shank to create better flex and motion control. What you can see is the Ochoco’s asymmetrical eyestays that flex with the midsole to accommodate natural foot motion through each stride, and the micro-filament mesh upper, which got a positive nod from testers. However, the testers didn’t like the Ochoco’s "clunky" running, which they felt was the result of little feel for the trail and an awkward transition from the heel to the signature Keen rubber toe, giving a block-like sensation.